Cuchilla, Dominican Republic, Summer 2009

Community Profile- Batey Cuchilla

Batey Cuchilla is located in the southwest of the Dominican Republic in the province of Bahoruco to the southeast of Tamayo. It is a small community of about 500 residents, surrounded by sugarcane fields on all sides. Most residents are grandchildren or children of Haitian immigrants who came to work in the sugarcane fields, or were born in Haiti themselves.

The economy of Batey Cuchilla is based primarily on the production of sugarcane. Additionally, some people work in other sectors of agriculture and raising livestock. There is a high rate of unemployment, illiteracy, and child labor. Forty percent of children in Cuchilla do not have a birth certificate, and therefore cannot continue their studies past the 8th grade.

In Cuchilla, there is a community center and a baseball field. There is a four-room school that serves children up to fifth grade. There are four churches, five stores, two hair salons, two bars. There are no paved roads. The majority of houses are made of (casas de tabla) with dirt floors and no bathroom. Running water and electricity are intermittent, and the community shares 12 latrines. There are no health services directly in Cuchilla, but there are two health clinics in other Bateys nearby. The closest hospital is in Tamayo. During heavy rains, the community is often cut off from the outside due to roads being washed away or flooded. In 2009, Global Potential’s advocacy work and meetings with the sugarcane company and the municipal government led over 15 dumptruck loads of material to repair the entranceway to the community, but there remains much work to be done on the road.

Locals enjoy sports, going to church, and visiting with friends. There is an organized youth group, and a number of incredible youth leaders. An informal baseball team of men aged 18-26 meets weekly to play against other communities.